The plus 202 penalty is the score given to a player who never manages to open during the hand.

Since low scores win in 101 Okey, receiving plus 202 is the worst outcome, far heavier than the penalty for opening but not finishing. It exists to reward reaching the 101-point opening threshold and to punish sitting on a hand that never gets onto the table. This is why experienced players prioritise assembling a legal opening even if it is not their strongest possible melds. Avoiding plus 202 is a core goal.